Hilton Closed for Prostitution Reopens

Police in China's Chongqing municipality have allowed a Hilton Hotel to reopen. The hotel had been forced to close following a prostitution raid.

According to the China Daily newspaper, the reopening was considered to be on a "trial" basis.

Police had been investigating gang-related activities at the hotel, and shut the property down on June 20.

Some 22 hotel employees were arrested in a raid which focused on the hotel's karaoke club. That facility, in the basement of the hotel, remained closed this week.

Hilton International, which manages the property, said last week it was fully cooperating in the investigation.

With the reopening, a legal representative of the hotel published a letter on a local website, apologizing for his client's mismanagement, the China Daily said.

"Some staff were involved in illegal activities and their deeds have tarnished Chongqing's image and the hotel's reputation," the letter said. "We sincerely apologize and we will cooperate with the government to clean our business."

Among suspects who were detained was a major shareholder of the hotel, who the newspaper said was accused of having a close relationship with gangsters, and providing hotel facilities for prostitution.